Abundance Wimbledon - Welcome to Spring
May 2020
Welcome to Abundance Wimbledon - Spring 2020
It's time for us at Abundance Wimbledon to get organised as there may be fruit ready to pick soon. Abundance Wimbledon relies on lots of people doing whatever they can to help - and here are some ways of getting involved over the next month or two. Topics are:
Impact of Covid-19
All of us volunteers at Abundance Wimbledon are very mindful of the impact of the Covid-19 virus and will continue to follow all UK Government guidelines. We have received advice that outdoor interactions pose much less of a risk than indoor activities.
Our Annual Fruit Day is scheduled for 19th September, 2020 but it may not go ahead, or may be scaled back and run outside only. We will announce our decision on Fruit Day in mid July and it will be based entirely on ensuring the safety of everyone - our volunteers, our committee and of course all our wonderful visitors enjoy our fruit day each year.
We have determined that it will be safe to continue our Spring and Summer picking activities under the following guidelines (as safety measures for all):
We are all about safety - both for our volunteers and fruit donors and if you feel that there is a safer way we can work with you, then please let us know!
Donations to Wimbledon and Merton Foodbanks
Recently we have made further cash donations to the Wimbledon Foodbank (£150), Wimbledon Guild (£75) and Merton and Morden Guild (£75) - all from money raised from the sales of 2019. They were all most appreciative.
Looking for a 2 Area Coordinators (Wimbledon Park and Raynes Park North)
A couple of our amazing volunteers have decided to step back a little (but are on hand to provide expert advice!) so we are looking for someone to coordinate our fruit and vegetable picking/donation gathering activities in Wimbledon Park and Raynes Park North (Cottenham Park and Copse Hill). This involves:
Interested in local fruit and vegetable picking?
If you'd like to help pick fruit/vegetables in private gardens and parks in your neighbourhood then please let us know. Even if you can just come along once or twice, your help will be greatly appreciated. Picking is organised by our Area Coordinators into the following local groups:
Do you know a local Charity who would appreciate our picked fruit and vegetables?
Our picking season last year was truly abundant and therefore we would like to spread the love! If you know a local charity who would be interested in receiving some of the picked fruit - please let us know. We generally have a large abundance of what we call "cooking" apples - not necessarily great to eat but perfect for apple pies and cakes. With many charities cooking meals for the most vulnerable in these Covid-19 times, we are keen to ensure that these apples (and any other fresh produce) does not go to waste. Having said that, we also generally pick some great eating apples and other produce so please let us know if your local charity would like to receive our donations. Please email us at [email protected].
I can't pick fruit but I would love to do deliveries for you!
If you have a car and are willing (and enjoy!) driving around our area, we are always looking for people to pick up our donated fruit and vegetables and take them to the charities. Please let us know if you can help out. [email protected]
Growing plants for Fruit Day
Last year, the plant stall at Fruit Day sold a range of plants, mostly food related. We’d really welcome donations of plants, especially fruit, herbs and other edible plants. So keep us in mind if you have too many of something, are planting up runners or sowing winter crops ... and please put in a few extra to donate to our stall!
Cordial, Chutney and Jam Master Classes
Sadly, there are no plans for any of our masterclasses for this year, due to the current social distancing restrictions. If this changes, we will let you know via our facebook and twitter accounts. You can also complete a form on our Masterclass page and Sue will let you know.
Abundance Wimbledon Fruit Day plans 2020
In mid-July, we will have another Abundance Wimbledon Committee Meeting. At that point, we will determine whether (according to UK Government guidelines) it will be safe for our Annual Fruit Day to continue in its current format. We do have a few options available to us and if it is that we are unable to sell the beautiful jams, chutneys and relishes on Fruit Day (or any other way), they will not go to waste! We will pass them all on to local charities. Remember that each year we make cash donations to charities so if this occurs, it will be our delicious home-made produce instead.
Other volunteering
There are lots of other ways you can help Abundance over the summer including cordial, chutney and jam making, delivering fruit to local charities and helping out at our proposed Fruit Day on Sat 19h Sept. 2020. If you think you might be able to help in any way, then please contact us.
The Bees are producing!
Alison, our lovely Bee lady always runs out of honey at our Fruit Day each year. For those of you who love her freshly made honey, there is some available now - with a donation to Abundance Wimbledon with each pot sold! This is local (SW19), allotment honey so is full of flavour and naturally harvested. If you are interested, please call/message Alison on 07946 759 551.
Best wishes
Juliet & team at ABUNDANCE WIMBLEDON
Our mailing address is: [email protected]
Get you own copy of Abundance emails: sign up HERE
#fightfoodwaste #abundancewimbledon #freshfoodlocal #goodfoodforall
It's time for us at Abundance Wimbledon to get organised as there may be fruit ready to pick soon. Abundance Wimbledon relies on lots of people doing whatever they can to help - and here are some ways of getting involved over the next month or two. Topics are:
- Impact of Covid-19
- Donations to Wimbledon and Merton Food Banks
- Looking for a 2 Area Coordinators (Wimbledon Park and Raynes Park North)
- Interested in local fruit picking?
- Do you know a local Charity who would appreciate our picked fruit?
- I can't pick fruit but I would love to do deliveries for you!
- Growing plants for Fruit Day
- Cordial, Chutney and Jam Master Classes
- Abundance Wimbledon Fruit Day plans 2020
- Other Volunteering
- The Bees are producing!
Impact of Covid-19
All of us volunteers at Abundance Wimbledon are very mindful of the impact of the Covid-19 virus and will continue to follow all UK Government guidelines. We have received advice that outdoor interactions pose much less of a risk than indoor activities.
Our Annual Fruit Day is scheduled for 19th September, 2020 but it may not go ahead, or may be scaled back and run outside only. We will announce our decision on Fruit Day in mid July and it will be based entirely on ensuring the safety of everyone - our volunteers, our committee and of course all our wonderful visitors enjoy our fruit day each year.
We have determined that it will be safe to continue our Spring and Summer picking activities under the following guidelines (as safety measures for all):
- Social distancing rules will apply - for pickers and those gardens/homes we visit
- Masks will be worn where appropriate
- We will coordinate with home owners to ensure that our volunteer pickers and the home owners are fully comfortable with our picking plans and that we all follow government guidelines
- All pickers will be 18+
We are all about safety - both for our volunteers and fruit donors and if you feel that there is a safer way we can work with you, then please let us know!
Donations to Wimbledon and Merton Foodbanks
Recently we have made further cash donations to the Wimbledon Foodbank (£150), Wimbledon Guild (£75) and Merton and Morden Guild (£75) - all from money raised from the sales of 2019. They were all most appreciative.
Looking for a 2 Area Coordinators (Wimbledon Park and Raynes Park North)
A couple of our amazing volunteers have decided to step back a little (but are on hand to provide expert advice!) so we are looking for someone to coordinate our fruit and vegetable picking/donation gathering activities in Wimbledon Park and Raynes Park North (Cottenham Park and Copse Hill). This involves:
- Making contact with current donors
- Introducing new donors to our activities
- Coordinate picking donated fruit (using your lists of donors and picking volunteers)
- Coordinating getting donated fruit to charities or chutney/jam makers with the support of delivery drivers
Interested in local fruit and vegetable picking?
If you'd like to help pick fruit/vegetables in private gardens and parks in your neighbourhood then please let us know. Even if you can just come along once or twice, your help will be greatly appreciated. Picking is organised by our Area Coordinators into the following local groups:
- Morden/Mitcham
- Raynes Park - North
- Raynes Park - South (position vacant)
- Wimbledon Park (position vacant)
- Wimbledon
Do you know a local Charity who would appreciate our picked fruit and vegetables?
Our picking season last year was truly abundant and therefore we would like to spread the love! If you know a local charity who would be interested in receiving some of the picked fruit - please let us know. We generally have a large abundance of what we call "cooking" apples - not necessarily great to eat but perfect for apple pies and cakes. With many charities cooking meals for the most vulnerable in these Covid-19 times, we are keen to ensure that these apples (and any other fresh produce) does not go to waste. Having said that, we also generally pick some great eating apples and other produce so please let us know if your local charity would like to receive our donations. Please email us at [email protected].
I can't pick fruit but I would love to do deliveries for you!
If you have a car and are willing (and enjoy!) driving around our area, we are always looking for people to pick up our donated fruit and vegetables and take them to the charities. Please let us know if you can help out. [email protected]
Growing plants for Fruit Day
Last year, the plant stall at Fruit Day sold a range of plants, mostly food related. We’d really welcome donations of plants, especially fruit, herbs and other edible plants. So keep us in mind if you have too many of something, are planting up runners or sowing winter crops ... and please put in a few extra to donate to our stall!
Cordial, Chutney and Jam Master Classes
Sadly, there are no plans for any of our masterclasses for this year, due to the current social distancing restrictions. If this changes, we will let you know via our facebook and twitter accounts. You can also complete a form on our Masterclass page and Sue will let you know.
Abundance Wimbledon Fruit Day plans 2020
In mid-July, we will have another Abundance Wimbledon Committee Meeting. At that point, we will determine whether (according to UK Government guidelines) it will be safe for our Annual Fruit Day to continue in its current format. We do have a few options available to us and if it is that we are unable to sell the beautiful jams, chutneys and relishes on Fruit Day (or any other way), they will not go to waste! We will pass them all on to local charities. Remember that each year we make cash donations to charities so if this occurs, it will be our delicious home-made produce instead.
Other volunteering
There are lots of other ways you can help Abundance over the summer including cordial, chutney and jam making, delivering fruit to local charities and helping out at our proposed Fruit Day on Sat 19h Sept. 2020. If you think you might be able to help in any way, then please contact us.
The Bees are producing!
Alison, our lovely Bee lady always runs out of honey at our Fruit Day each year. For those of you who love her freshly made honey, there is some available now - with a donation to Abundance Wimbledon with each pot sold! This is local (SW19), allotment honey so is full of flavour and naturally harvested. If you are interested, please call/message Alison on 07946 759 551.
Best wishes
Juliet & team at ABUNDANCE WIMBLEDON
Our mailing address is: [email protected]
Get you own copy of Abundance emails: sign up HERE
#fightfoodwaste #abundancewimbledon #freshfoodlocal #goodfoodforall
